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Cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases

LCT is an Australasian biotechnology company improving the wellbeing of people with serious diseases worldwide by discovering, developing and commercialising regenerative treatments which include naturally occuring cells to restore function.

The Phase I/IIa clinical trial of NTCELL for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, in New Zealand, met the primary endpoint of safety and in the three-year follow-up showed persistent long-term improvement in some patients.

Results from this trial were used to design a larger Phase IIb trial to confirm the most effective dose of NTCELL, define any placebo component of the response and further identify the initial target Parkinson’s disease patient sub group. This trial commenced in March 2016.

Initial analysis of the 18 month follow up data shows a statistically significant improvement (p = <0.05) in the UPDRS in the patients who received 80 NTCELL capsules implantation to the putamen on both sides of the brain as compared to the placebo group that received sham surgery.

In addition to Parkinson’s disease, NTCELL has the potential to be used in a number of other central nervous system indications, including Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s and motor neurone diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

LCT’s proprietary encapsulation technology, IMMUPEL™, allows cell therapies to be used without the need for co-treatment with drugs that suppress the immune system.

LCT is listed on the Australian (ASX: LCT) and US (OTCQX: LVCLY) stock exchanges and is incorporated in Australia, with operations based in New Zealand.

LCT has the data from the 24 month follow up of the 18 patients in the Phase IIb study of NTCELL® for Parkinson’s disease.
At 24 months post implant the 4 people with Parkinson’s disease who received 80 capsules continue to show a benefit as measured by the change in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS Part III in the off state). This was greater than the 2 placebo group in that section of the Trial, but not when compared to all the 6 placebo patients (4 from the other groups) in whom responses were quite varied. Recipients of 40 capsules showed no difference from placebo.

On Saturday Morning on RNZ National, LCT Scientific Advisor Sir Richard Faull and businessman Bernie Crosby talk to Kim Hill about the work of the University of Auckland Centre for Brain Research and finding a cure for Parkinson's disease.

Would you have pig cells implanted in your brain? Some people with Parkinson’s disease have, in the hope it will stop their disease progressing.
The approach is still in the early stages of testing, but initial results from four people look promising, with all showing some improvement 18 months after surgery.
Living Cell Technologies, based in Auckland, New Zealand, has been developing a treatment that uses cells from the choroid plexus in pigs. This brain structure makes a cocktail of growth factors and signalling molecules known to help keep nerve cells healthy.

LCT has the data from the 24 month follow up of the 18 patients in the Phase IIb study of NTCELL® for Parkinson’s disease.
At 24 months post implant the 4 people with Parkinson’s disease who received 80 capsules continue to show a benefit as measured by the change in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS Part III in the off state). This was greater than the 2 placebo group in that section of the Trial, but not when compared to all the 6 placebo patients (4 from the other groups) in whom responses were quite varied. Recipients of 40 capsules showed no difference from placebo.

On Saturday Morning on RNZ National, LCT Scientific Advisor Sir Richard Faull and businessman Bernie Crosby talk to Kim Hill about the work of the University of Auckland Centre for Brain Research and finding a cure for Parkinson's disease.

Would you have pig cells implanted in your brain? Some people with Parkinson’s disease have, in the hope it will stop their disease progressing.
The approach is still in the early stages of testing, but initial results from four people look promising, with all showing some improvement 18 months after surgery.
Living Cell Technologies, based in Auckland, New Zealand, has been developing a treatment that uses cells from the choroid plexus in pigs. This brain structure makes a cocktail of growth factors and signalling molecules known to help keep nerve cells healthy.